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Crop Based Working Groups
AME has begun to sponsor Stakeholder Concerted Action Platforms for all biomass actors to come together to review the past, share their views and plan future action. A significant outcome is joint action based on shared responsibilities. Participating in these activities are, apart from the committed farmers, social service organizations, technical agencies, bankers and input dealers. These events are becoming not only popular but also functionally very useful. Some of the research initiatives have been a result of such joint action.
Crop working groups have gained momentum in bringing about several joint field research initiatives between researchers and NGOs. The Govt. of India (GOI) has acknowledged the importance of this ‘model of collaborative action’ and has suggested the process for securing farmer-tested validation of new technologies. It has also proved to be a process of intensive learning and ample feedback.
Linkages with State Agricultural University research stations, national and international research stations like CRIDA, CIPMC and ICRISAT, extension agencies like KVKs, DoA extension wing, and input suppliers both government and commercial, were thought to be established and these were complied with. Notable NGO collaborations facilitated include: Integrated Pest management (IPM) collaboration in TN; activities in APCOT and DPIP (AP); activities with ISPWD-K & KAWAD and RHC control (Karnataka); FAO-GOI collaboration in Cotton IPM. Some of the concrete joint research initiatives between NGO- academic and research institutions include: Role of botanicals in Pest and disease control; multivarietal trials in groundnut; trials of short duration cotton varieties.
